Case of a Ghanaian man, who has fought a four-year legal battle to live in Britain following a ‘proxy wedding’ 3,000 miles away has brought to knowledge that foreign nationals can get Uk residency overseas.

-Ghanaian man has fought a landmark four-year legal battle to live in Britain-He had a 'proxy wedding' 3,000 miles away which he did not even attend-Neither Albert Awuku, 43, or his German bride needed to be present-Instead, they are thought to have been represented by their families in accordance with Ghana's 'customary law’ on marriages

Foreign nationals can get UK residency by marrying EU citizens in overseas ceremonies which they do not even have to attend, it emerged last night.

Details of the little-known practice have been spelled out in the case of a Ghanaian man, who has fought a four-year legal battle to live in Britain following a ‘proxy wedding’ 3,000 miles away.

Neither Albert Awuku, 43, or his bride – a German citizen who can live in the UK under EU free movement rules – needed to be present at their nuptials in Ghana in February 2013.

Instead, they are thought to have been represented by their families in accordance with the country’s ‘customary law’ on marriages.
At such weddings, the groom’s father typically offers gifts and drink to the bride’s father for her hand in marriage.
Months. after the couple tied the knot, their marriage was registered in Ghana and the wedding certificate used in Britain in a bid to win residency rights for Mr Awuku.
As there were no exit or entry stamps from Ghana or the UK on his passport to show he had attended the ceremony, his marriage was considered by the Home Office to have ‘taken place by proxy’.